All Is Vanity (Fretwork)

[Jon Lanier]

The idea and design came from a Charles Allen Gillbert painting from 1892. The “Vanity” is considered by many to be one of the finest optical illusions ever conceived. The painting is an ambiguous illusion with an allegorical theme.

The two aspects become clear as you study the figure. It can be seen as either, a beautiful girl gazing at her reflection in a large mirror; or the scene can be realized as a grinning human skull. The girl’s two heads make up the eye sockets of the skull, her vanity items, and an embroidered table cloth form the teeth and jaws.

The total size with including frame is 17” x 13”. Cut out (scroll saw) from 1/4 Birch. A little Danish Oil rubbed in for the finish. I wish now that I had cut this out of something with a little more grain.

http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/989/allisvanity5picsahb0.jpg



http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/9426/allisvanityaaiz6.jpg

[Don Eddard]

Very impressive work Jon. Nice detail shots, too.

[Bruce Page]

Very interesting Jon. There used to be one of these used by government security departments referencing “the spy within”. When I first saw it back in the ‘70’s I had a hard time seeing the second image, once it popped in I struggled to see the first! :confused:

Nice work

[Carroll Courtney]

Jon,that is awesome!Jon,I am a beginner at scroll work and I guess fret(I don't know what the difference is) what would you recommend for a beginner ex.books,dvd's web sites?I did have look at it alittle before I could see the lady looking at herself.Fantastic!!!!!!!!!

[gary Zimmel]

Jon

Impressive, very imressive. The detail is excellent!

How long did it take to complete?